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03 June 2016What to consider when choosing a finish for your pool hall

Indoor pools offer a luxurious leisure experience all year round. That’s why many homeowners choose to construct an indoor pool hall: a versatile, custom-designed part of the home permanently dedicated to relaxation and wellness.

One of the most important decisions you’ll make regarding your pool hall design is, like with the pool itself, which finish you want installed. At some point, your designer is going to present you with a range of finish options to choose from. A good finish can make or break a pool hall, and it’s important to make an informed decision when this happens. To help, we have assembled this short list of considerations to keep in mind.

Space, light, and colour
Although we agree with Steve Taylor of COSDesign in that “the success of a great pool design is not measured in size—it comes back to the core fundamentals of good design, form, and function”, it’s important to have an awareness and understanding of the space you’re working in when selecting a particular finish.

Remember, you’re working within an enclosed space, so just as if you were designing any other room, you need to bear factors like lighting and space in mind. Combining low lighting with a darker coloured tiled finish or wooden finish elements could make a large basement pool hall feel smaller and more intimate than it otherwise would.

On the other hand, a white tiled pool deck with white ceiling, walls, and large windows, could make a smaller hall feel much larger by blending it more seamlessly with the outdoor light and space. Think about how your choice of finish will affect the feel of the room and size of the space.

Don’t be afraid to mix finishes
Many pool owners like to mix finishes within their pool, such as combining mosaics with stone tiles or glass with ceramic. Just as you are not limited to a single finish inside your pool, you also have a range of choices when it comes to your pool hall. A tiled deck will give you a tactile surface underfoot, and an area with a wooden finish could act as a natural area to dry off and relax.

Alternatively, you might want a marble surround to seat your pool furniture and large glass windows to let in the light. Some of the most beautiful and opulent indoor pools in the world use mixed finishes—combining the most luxurious finishes can really make a statement.

Co-ordinate
It’s important to remember that you are not designing just any room. Your pool hall, as the name suggests, will be dominated by your beautiful bespoke pool. As such, the finish of the pool hall needs to work with the pool. You need to, therefore, consider factors such as the colour of the pool water, the type of pool finish, the view outside the pool hall’s windows, and even how your finish is going to look next to any water features or saunas.

Co-ordination isn’t just limited to the pool. Your pool hall will undoubtedly require furniture and lighting, as well as plants and a changing area. If you have wooden furniture, a more natural-looking tile or marble surrounding finish might provide a nice contrast in tones. Low, subtle lighting, on the other hand, could work excellently with a plainer finish and a lot of plants to create a relaxing, naturalistic environment.

If you want your pool hall to stand out, these elements need to blend seamlessly with the finish in terms of aesthetic, colour, and texture. Not only that, but the finish of the pool hall should ideally complement the interior of the rest of the house. These are all wider factors to consider before choosing your pool hall finish.

At London Swimming Pool Company we specialise in swimming pool construction, design and refurbishment, so if you need advice on a brand new pool, contact us for an initial discussion – there’s no substitute for expert advice.